Warehouse would ‘darken doorsteps’

BUILDING a giant warehouse and multi-storey car park would be a tragedy for local residents, a public inquiry heard.

Four members of the SOS Campaign (Stop Overdeveloping Shaw) and two councillors gave evidence at the Oldham Civic Centre hearing into JD Williams’s appeal against the council’s rejection of its £41m extension plans.

The mail order company wants to build a 127ft-high warehouse and three-storey car park at its Lilac and Briar Mills site in Beal Lane, Shaw.

Councillor Hazel Gloster, speaking for the SOS Campaign, said: “It will darken the doorsteps of Shaw and Crompton residents forever. This employer feels it can do whatever it wants regardless of residents’ views. It will be a tragedy for Shaw.”

SOS recently hoisted a crane to demonstrate how high the proposed development would be. and received 130 texts and 36 e-mails from across Shaw, she revealed.

Properties on Beal Lane already shook from lorries passing and householders can’t open windows for traffic fumes, the hearing was told.

Councillor Rod Blyth, representing ward borough councillors, said: “The existing warehouse looks nothing like a mill building but looks like a big grey shed with red corners — this new application is a big shed too far.

“If this shed goes ahead it will be detrimental to the quality of life of residents I represent. It’s just stacking up problems for the future.”

The firm says the development is of good architectural design and will cause no harm to any significant views or landmarks. It says the expansion is desperately needed to solve storage problems and will secure the company’s future in Shaw and create jobs.

General manager Ian Carr said without the expansion, the Shaw site would no longer be sustainable and the firm would consider relocating, putting 1,000 local jobs at risk.

Oldham Council has defended the decision to turn down the plans. Findings into the inquiry are expected in the next few weeks.